Priority Choices

Posted on by josiahkagin

Recently, my pastor, Don Williams, sent me this picture of me helping collate Bibles. Growing up, our church was involved in the Scripture ministry. We would collate, bind and prepare John and Romans, New Testaments and sometimes Bibles for different languages around the world. What a worthwhile endeavor! As a family, we would involve ourselves regularly in this process. 

Looking back, I am thankful for my parents, Jim and Dawn Kagin, who made church, the faith of our pastor and the work of the Lord a priority in our lives. Some good activities were sacrificed in order for our family to serve the Lord in this way.  I am thankful for a pastor who provided opportunities to serve the Lord in and through the local church. As a young man I really enjoyed spending time with him in the printshop and helping in the with the Scripture ministry. My parents encouraged me to be a help to my pastor and I owe so much to his influence in my life.

Parents and grandparents, never underestimate the influence of your priority choices today! Align your priorities with Christ’s priority — serving others and doing the will of God. 

“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:12-17)

All the Fiery Darts

Posted on by josiahkagin

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16)

We should be aware that satan has fiery darts with your name on them each day. However, God has given you a piece of armor to stop EVERY ONE of them, the shield of faith. Faith is total trust and dependence upon God. It is taking God at His Word. In this case, it is in full faith using the very truth of God’s Word as a shield from the darts that satan will throw at you. The words “above all” indicates to us that the shield of faith is a high-priority piece of armor.

Let’s think about how this would look in our daily lives. As you get in the car to leave for work, satan throws a dart of worthlessness at you. He tells you that you are of no value to God. Do you believe it? Does he get to write your reality? He should not! Instead of meditating on that dart satan has thrown, go to the Bible and see what God says about you. God says that those who are in Christ are indwelt by the Spirit of God and ARE the children of God. He says that His children are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. God views you as valuable! By faith hold God’s truth up as a shield against that dart of worthlessness.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Every person is intrinsically valuable to God because He created them. Even though man sinned against Him and is separated from Him, God valued a relationship with mankind so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in place of man. Jesus did not just die but rose again. He offers all who will believe on His name the total forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God thinks you are valuable!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Now it is time to take the shield of faith up in your hands!

Growing in 2020

Posted on by josiahkagin

Growth.jpg

Those who garden know that growth requires a plan along with consistent care and effort. Spiritual growth is no different. As you prepare for 2020, may I encourage you to  plan for spiritual growth. Remember, growth will not come easy. However, with some care and effort, it will come! Let me suggest some resources that you might find helpful for your spiritual growth in the New Year.

Digital Bible Reading Plan on the YouVersion App

  1. One Year Bible Group Plan
  2. My Utmost for His Highest 30 Day Group Plan

Daily Reading Bibles & Study Bibles

  1. One Year Bible
  2. Life Application Study Bible
  3. Thompson Chain Study Bible
  4. Ryrie Study Bible
  5. Kids Study Bible

Daily Devotionals

  1. Trust and Obey
  2. Rooted in Christ
  3. A Daily Word
  4. A Word to the Wise
  5. Disciple
  6. Revival Today
  7. Journey
  8. Daily in the Word in your Email Inbox
  9. My Utmost for His Highest—Oswald Chambers
  10. Morning and Evening—C.H. Spurgeon

Prayer App

Echo Prayer App

By His Spirit Reads

Posted on by josiahkagin

This year at Grace Baptist Church, our theme is By His Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.”  God was communicating a powerful truth through Zechariah that was not for his day only, but for our’s today. 

Many followers of Christ endeavour to live, witness and serve in their own strength and effort. Frustrated and defeat pile up leading to quiet despair. They consider themselves to be lesser Chrisitan who is unable to obey God’s Word and be faithful in God’s work.

The truth is, God did not design the Christian life to be lived out on our own and without help. He has graciously provided all the power with which to accomplish His ‘why’ for our lives. It will not be accomplished by our might or our power, but by His Spirit through us.

Prayer and the Word of God are key to living By His Spirit. I hope you are striving to make these Christian disciplines a daily routine. Beyond, your Bible reading, there are some related books that God has used to bless many followers who hungered for more. I challenge you to make this list a part of your reading goal this year. Each book title is linked to Amazon.

  1. By My Spirit by Jonathan Goforth
  2. I Saw the Welsh Revival by David Matthews
  3. The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
  4. Experiencing Jesus by John Van Gelderen
  5. Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray
  6. The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
  7. Praying Hyde by Captain E. G. Carre
  8. Rent Heavens R. B. Jones
  9. Revival in Our Time by Harold Vaughan
  10. Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray
  11. Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray
  12. We Would See Jesus by Roy Hession
  13. Victory in Christ by Charles G. Trumbull

In the Word

Posted on by josiahkagin

On January 1st each year, I like to begin a Bible reading plan. We all understand, what we schedule and plan is more likely to get done. Here are a couple ideas for getting into the Word every single day this year.

  1. Read the New Testament. Get Plan
  2. Read the whole Bible in one year with daily readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. Get Plan
  3. Read the M’Cheyne Plan taking you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice. Get Plan
  4. Read the Bible chronologically in one year. Get Plan
  5. Read the Bible in 90 days. Get Plan

There are many ways to read the Bible, the most important thing is that you read the Bible everyday.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:8‬

May this be a year marked by an increase in your knowledge of God and in your relationship with Him through his Word.

Only One Life

Posted on by josiahkagin

CT STUDD

 

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “t’was worth it all”;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”